Method of manufacturing photo album pages

ABSTRACT

An improved method for manufacturing photographic album pages of a type including a base having an attached clear synthetic resinous overlay on each side of the base detachably adhered by pressure sensitive adhesive areas permitting the assembly of the overlay with the base after the step of coating the latter by utilizing a base of paper, the surfaces of which have substantial absorptive capacity in conjunction with an aromatic solvent rubber base adhesive. The adhesive is applied in predetermined dot pattern, permitting the adhesive solvent vehicle to be at least partially absorbed into the paper, to vaporize with time and pass between the adhesive dots to the open top, bottom and side edges of the page after the application of the overlay, and before use.

United States Patent [191 Holson METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PHOTO ALBUMPAGES [75] Inventor: Sheldon Holson, Norwalk, Conn.

[73] Assignee: The Holson Company, Wilton,

Conn.

[22] Filed: Feb. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 334,116

[52] US. Cl 156/291, 156/338, 161/148 [51] Int. Cl B32b 7/14 [58] Fieldof Search 156/291, 295, 87, 290, 156/299, 338; 40/104.18, 104.19, 158 R;161/148, 244

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,736,679 2/1956 Nickerson156/138 X 3,238,078 3/1966 Baldwin 156/87 3,381,402 5/1968 Tadao Ohfuji40/158 6/1971 Mascolo 40/158 B [111 3,865,668 [4 1 Feb. 11,1975

Primary Examiner-William A. Powell Assistant Examiner-Brian J. LeittenAttorney, Agent, or FirmCharles E. Temko [57] ABSTRACT An improvedmethod for manufacturing photographic album pages of a type including abase having an attached clear synthetic resinous overlay on each side ofthe base detachably adhered by pressure sensitive adhesive areaspermitting the assembly of the overlay with the base after the step ofcoating the latter by utilizing a base of paper, the surfaces of whichhave substantial absorptive capacity in conjunction with an aromaticsolvent rubber base adhesive. The adhesive is applied in predetermineddot pattern, permitting the adhesive solvent vehicle to be at leastpartially ab sorbed into the paper, to vaporize with time and passbetween the adhesive dots to the open top, bottom and side edges of thepage after the application of the overlay, and before use.

3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEDFEBI 1 ms Pmop ART FIG 6. Fl a i 40PRIOR ART Fl 6, 2

'33 I PRIOR ART Fl G. 4 22 PRIOR ART FIG. 5

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PHOTO ALBUM PAGES This invention relatesgenerally to the field of photographic album pages of a'type having apaper base and a synthetic resinous overlay detach'ably adhered theretoto pressure sensitive adhesive. Pages of this general type are wellknown inthe art, and the inven tion lies in the improved method by whichthe same may be conveniently fabricated as a continuous line op.-eration, as distinguished from prior art methodswhich require a separateheating step prior to assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In the prior art, the most commonmethod for fabricating pages is to provide a blank of paper of twice thearea of the finished page, and a similarly sized synthetic resinousoverlay. The blank of paper is coated on one side with lines ofpressure-sensitive adhesive of various types, following which the coatedpaper is baked in an oven or kiln to harden the coated adhesive andevaporate the solvent or vehicle therefrom. The transparent syntheticresinous overlay is then adhered to the now dried adhesive, and theexposed opposite surface of the paper base is coated with a glue,following which the laminated base and overlay are folded transverselyof the principal axis and pressed for several hours to make afour-laminae sandwich. This process, while effective, is not suitablefor in-line operations, because of the pressing step required to set orcure the glue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly stated, the inventioncontemplates the provision of a paper base lamina which whilecalendered, is relatively uncoated on the exposed surfaces thereof so asto possess a reasonably high absorptive quality. The adhesive applied tothe surfaces is of a rubber base titanium oxide type having anevaporable vehicle which may be absorbed without damage by the paperstock leaving the deposited adhesive on the surface of the paper. Thetransparent overlay is applied immediately after coating while theadhesive is still moist, and after such application under pressure, thepaper base lamina continues to absorb the evaporable vehicle from thecement which does not penetrate the surface, but remains above the same.Since the base lamina and overlay are disconnected on three sides,evaporation to the atmosphere of the vehicle commences almostimmediately,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, to which referencewill be made in the specification, similar reference characters havebeen employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews.

FIG. I is a view in elevation of a completed album page made inaccordance with either prior art methods or the method disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view as seen from the plane 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevationofa paper blank forming a base member of acompleted page formed in accordance with prior art methods.

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation showing the blank of FIG. 3 after coatingon one surface thereof with a pressure sensitive adhesive.

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation showing a transparent overlay used inaccordance with the prior art method.

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation showing a final step including thelamination of the structure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view as seen from plane 7-7 in FIG 6.

FIG. 8 is a view in elevation showing a coated paper blank in accordancewith the disclosed method.

FIG. 9. is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a transparent overlayused in conjunction with the structure of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view in elevation showing the lamination of the structureof FIGS. 8 and 9 in accordance with the disclosed method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED METHOD Prior to a description ofthe disclosed method, a brief review of thev best known prior artmethod, for purposes of comparison, is considered apposite.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7 inclusive in the drawing, a conventional page,generally indicated by reference character 10 is illustrated. The pageincludes a paper base lamina 11, having first and second surfaces I2 and13, and bounded by an upper edge 14, a lower edge 15, an inner end edgel6and an outer end edge 17. A pair of tape hinge members 18 and 19interconnect the base lamina 11 with a mounting strip 20 having holes 21for binding. A transparent overlay element 22 may be formed eitherintegrally, or to include first and second transparent sheets 23 and 24having a tape strip interconnecting means 25. The sheets may be formedofcellulose acetate, but in the present state of the art, they are morecommonly formed from thin guage vinyl material.

Referring to FIG. 3, in accordance with prior art methods, it iscustomary to start with a paper blank 29 of approximately twice the areaof the desired finished page. To what becomes an outer surface 30, apressure sensitive adhesive is applied in lines in a desired pattern, asseen in FIG. 4, following which a plurality of such blanks are subjectedto a baking operation at a temperature sufficient to evaporate thevehicle of the adhesive without scorching the paper.

Following the baking step a correspondingly sized vinyl or acetateoverlay 32 is laminated to the cured adhesive, and the laminated unit isthen folded about a line 33 after the exposed surface of the blank 29 iscoated with a permanent adhesive to form a sandwich of four laminaeillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The laminae are then pressed together forseveral hours while the adhesive is set or cured.

The obvious disadvantage of the above described method is the loss oftime during the pressing step, and the necessity of forming separateblanks for the press ing operation.

With the foregoing discussion in mind, reference may be made to FIG. 8in the drawing which illustrates a base 40 formed of relatively thickerpaper stock which has been calendered to a degree wherein a pair of'sur- 40 is of reduced size, and is bounded by an upper edge tion.However, the process is also suitable for use with water-ammonia vehicleadhesives as well;

The adhesively coated areas will correspond to the area of the overlayelement 48 (FIG. 9) preferably made to include first and second laminae49 and 50 interconnected by a tape hinge 51. The overlay is applied tothe base 40 immediately after the latter has been coated, underpressure, wherein the finished device takes the appearance shown in FIG.10.

lt will beobserved that the overlay is applied while the adhesive isstill in relatively soft and uncured condition, preferably by passingthe layers to be laminated through a pressure roller set (not shown).This will result in a slight spreading of the adhesive areas, and thelevel ofthe adhesive being somewhat closer to the, level of the coatedsurfaces than in the prior art method, although the actual saving in theamount of adhesive required is not of substantial proportions. After thelaminating step has been completed, the solvent phase of the adhesivecontinues to be absorbed by the paper base through capillary action, thethicker adhesive remaining on the surface thereof. For practicalpurposes, the completed page is dry thus permitting subsequentmanufacturing operation, including the application of the hinge meansand the incorporation of the page into a finished photo album. Thevehicle continues to evaporatethrough the'free side andend edges of thepage, a process which may require several days at room temperature, butwhich is completed long before the completed album is shipped for retailsale, so that by the time it is put to use by a-purchaser, all of thesolvent has been volatilized, together with any accompanying odor.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in'thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim: I

l. The method of manufacturing a photo album page having a paper baselamina and a clear synthetic resinous overlay extending over the surfaceof said base lamina, comprisingthe steps of: providing a base lamina ofpaper stock, the surface of which has substantial moisture aborptivecapacity; applying an evaporable vehicle latex-based adhesive pressuresensitive to at least one surface of said base lamina in disconnectedsubstantially circular areas such that the applied adhesive areas aresubstantially surrounded by uncoated surface areas of the base lamina;while said applied adhesive is still in a relatively uncured state,applying said overlay to said adhesive-coated base lamina underpressure; allowing said base lamina and attached overlay to remainrelatively undisturbed at room temperature for a period of timesufficient to allow the evaporable vehicle phase of the adhesive coatingto first be at least partially absorbed by said coated surface of saidbase lamina, and subsequentlyevaporated past the free edges of saidoverlay, prior to use.

2. The method in accordance'with claim 1, in which the adhesive includesnatural latex, titanium oxide, and caseinate salts in a aromaticsolvent, the solvent being approximately Spercent by weight of theentire composition.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, in which the adhesive is of awater-ammonia vehicle type.

1. THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A PHOTO ALBUM PAGE HAVING A PAPER BASELAMINA AND A CLEAR SYNTHETIC RESINOUS OVERLAY EXTENDING OVER THE SURFACEOF SAID BASE LAMINA, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: PROVIDING A BASE LAMINA OFPAPER STOCK, THE SURFACE OF WHICH HAS SUBSTANTIAL MOISTURE ABSORPTIVECAPACITY; APPLYING AN EVAPORABLE VEHICLE LATEX-BASED ADHESIVE PRESSURESENSITIVE TO AT LEAST ONE SURFACE OF SAID BASE LAMINA IN DISCONNECTEDSUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR AREAS SUCH THAT THE APPLIED ADHESIVE AREAS ARESUBSTANTIALLY SURROUNDED BY UNCOATED SURFACE AREAS OF THE BASE LAMINA;WHILE SAID APPLIED ADHESIVE IS STILL IN A RELATIVELY UNCURED STATE,APPLYING SAID OVERLAY TO SAID ADHESIVE-COATED BASE LAMINA UNDERPRESSURE; ALLOWING SAID BASE LAMINA AND ATTACHED OVERLAY TO REMAINRELATIVELY UNDISTRIBUTED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE FOR A PERIOD OF TIMESUFFICIENT TO ALLOW THE EVAPORABLE VEHICLE PHASE OF THE ADHESIVE COATINGTO FIRST BE AT LEAST PARTIALLY ABSORBED BY SAID COATED SURFACE OF SAIDBASE LAMINA, AND SUBSEQUENTLY EVAPORATED PAST THE FREE EDGES OF SAIDOVERLAY, PRIOR TO USE.
 2. The method in accordance with claim 1, inwhich the adhesive includes natural latex, titanium oxide, and caseinatesalts in a aromatic solvent, the solvent being approximately 5percent byweight of the entire composition.
 3. The method in accordance with claim1, in which the adhesive is of a water-ammonia vehicle type.